Weekly versus triweekly cisplatin treatment in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer during concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: For patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (LA-NPC), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the standardized treatment. However, whether a weekly or triweekly cisplatin regimen should be used during CCRT is controversial. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to explore differences in the effects and toxicities of the two regimens. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (until June 10, 2022). We evaluated overall survival (OS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and grade ≥ 3 adverse events. The effect indices were hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs), and Review Manager software 5.4 (RevMan 5.4) was used for computations. RESULTS: We identified 7 studies in our analysis. There was no significant difference in OS (HR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.73-1.38, P = 0.99), DMFS (HR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.58-1.22, P = 0.36), LRFS (HR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.63-1.32, P = 0.62) or DFS (HR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.56-1.56; P = 0.78) between the weekly and triweekly cisplatin regimens. We found that the weekly cisplatin regimen was more likely to cause grade ≥ 3 hematological toxicity events than the triweekly cisplatin regimen. In addition, subgroup analyses revealed that patients undergoing CCRT and CCRT plus adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) had similar OS or DFS. CONCLUSION: Weekly and triweekly cisplatin regimens had similar efficacy for LA-NPC. The triweekly regimen may replace the weekly regimen for LA-NPC because of lower toxicity. Larger data accumulation and more multicenter clinical trials may be needed to verify these results.

Psychological needs satisfaction and smartphone addiction among Chinese adolescents: The mediating roles of social anxiety and loneliness.

Objectives: Although previous studies have initially noted that psychological needs satisfaction (PNS) might be a significant risk factor for technology addiction (e.g. online gaming addiction and Internet addiction), specific mechanisms involved in the association between PNS and adolescent smartphone addiction are largely unknown. Based on self-determination theory, this cross-sectional study constructed a multiple mediation model to examine whether PNS will influence adolescent smartphone addiction through the mediating roles of social anxiety and loneliness. Methods: Eight hundred and ninety-nine Chinese adolescents answered the questionnaire including measures of PNS, social anxiety, loneliness, and smartphone addiction. SPSS 24.0 was used for common method bias test, reliability test, and correlation analysis, and Mplus 7.4 was used to examine the mediating roles of social anxiety and loneliness in the multiple mediation model. Results: This study found that (1) PNS was negatively associated with adolescent smartphone addiction; (2) loneliness significantly mediated the association between PNS and smartphone addiction while the mediating role of social anxiety in this association was nonsignificant; and (3) social anxiety and loneliness also sequentially mediated this association. Conclusion: This study further enriched potential mechanisms linking PNS and smartphone addiction among adolescents, which may contribute to intervention and prevention programs for adolescent smartphone addiction from the perspective of improving both PNS and negative emotions including social anxiety and loneliness.

Work addiction in Chinese white-collar workers: the psychometric properties of its measure and its comorbidity with general anxiety in network analysis.

BACKGROUND: Work addiction (WA) threatens occupation-related health in many countries including China. This research aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Bergen Work Addiction Scale (BWAS), the most common measure of WA, to facilitate relevant studies in Chinese workers. A network analysis was further conducted to identify central and bridge symptoms within the WA-anxiety network to improve intervention practices. METHODS: A total of 694 Chinese white-collar workers completed an online questionnaire survey in March of 2022, and the responses to BWAS from a subsample of 50 participants one month after this survey were also collected. RESULTS: The unidimensionality of BWAS was supported by results of exploratory factor analysis, exploratory graph analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis and we found satisfactory internal consistency and acceptable test-retest reliability. Multiple-group factor analyses confirmed the measurement invariance of BWAS across genders, districts (i.e., central China, eastern China, western China, and northeastern China), and age groups (i.e., young and middle-aged adults) while the convergent validity of BWAS was demonstrated by its significant correlations with Dutch Work Addiction Scale (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) and its criterion validity was indicated by its significant correlations with general anxiety, weekly work hours, and health status (r = -0.16 to 0.31, p < 0.001-0.01). Network analysis further revealed two central symptoms (WA-tolerance and WA-problems) and three bridge symptoms (WA-problems, WA-mood modification, and mouth dryness of general anxiety) maintaining the WA-anxiety comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that BWAS is a valid measure of WA in Chinese workers and interventions should put special attention to the identified central and bridge symptoms underlying the WA-anxiety network.

Perceived Parental Monitoring of Smartphones and Problematic Smartphone Use in Adolescents: Mediating Roles of Self-Efficacy and Self-Control.

Adolescents are vulnerable for problematic smartphone use (PSU), which is associated with adverse psychological and physical health outcomes. Prior studies have debated whether the association between parental monitoring of smartphones and PSU is positive, negative, or nonsignificant. The present study investigated the relationship between parental monitoring of smartphones and PSU and the potential mediation mechanism involving self-efficacy and self-control. Eight hundred ninety-nine middle- and high-school students from a metropolitan city in China completed a questionnaire containing measurements of demographic information, perceived parental monitoring of smartphones, self-control, self-efficacy, and PSU. The results showed that (a) perceived parental monitoring of smartphones was negatively related to adolescent PSU; (b) self-control partially mediated the link between perceived parental monitoring of smartphones and adolescent PSU; and (c) self-efficacy and self-control sequentially mediated the link between parental monitoring of smartphones and PSU. The current study highlights the mediating mechanisms linking perceived parental monitoring of smartphones and adolescent PSU, and this may contribute to the development of family-based prevention and intervention strategies for adolescent PSU.

B7 homolog 3 induces lung metastasis of breast cancer through Raf/MEK/ERK axis.

PURPOSE: The essential action of B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3) in different diseases and cancers has been documented. We here focused on its role in breast cancer through the Raf/MEK/ERK axis regarding lung metastasis. METHODS: Expression pattern of B7-H3 was determined in breast cancer tissues and cells with its correlation with prognosis analyzed. Then, through transfection of lentivirus vector expressing B7-H3-shRNA, overexpression vector of B7-H3 (B7-H3-LV), U0126 (small molecule inhibitor of MEK), or PD98059 (small molecule inhibitor of ERK), the in vitro and in vivo effects of B7-H3 in breast cancer cell biological processes, and lung metastasis were analyzed in relation to the Raf/MEK/ERK axis. RESULTS: We discovered elevated B7-H3 in breast cancer and its elevation associated with poor prognosis. B7-H3 promoted the malignant properties of breast cancer cells, accompanied with increased N-cadherin and vimentin and reduced E-cadherin. Additionally, overexpression of B7-H3 accelerated the lung metastasis in breast cancer in vivo. All the above promoting action of B7-H3 was achieved through activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Taken together, B7-H3 can promote lung metastasis in breast cancer through activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK axis.

Parent-adolescent relationships, peer relationships, and adolescent mobile phone addiction: The mediating role of psychological needs satisfaction.

INTRODUCTION: Prior studies have shown that parent-adolescent relationships and peer relationships may be important factors associated with adolescent mobile phone addiction (MPA). The present study aims to further explore the direct effects of parent-adolescent and peer relationships on adolescent MPA as well as the indirect effects through the mediating roles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs satisfaction. METHODS: Our sample consisted of 1766 Chinese adolescents (53.10% male; Mage = 13.33, SD = 1.94, range from 10 to 18 years) who completed questionnaires regarding parent-adolescent relationships, peer relationships, psychological needs satisfaction, and MPA. SPSS 24.0 was used to analyze correlations among variables and Mplus 7.4 was used to test the structural equation model in this study. RESULTS: (1) positive parent-adolescent relationships were negatively associated with adolescent MPA, while peer relationships did not show a significant association with MPA; (2) autonomy and competence needs satisfaction significantly mediated the effects of parent-adolescent and peer relationships on MPA, while the mediating role of relatedness need satisfaction between parent-adolescent and peer relationships and MPA was not significant; (3) the mediating effect of competence need satisfaction between peer relationships and MPA was significantly stronger than that between parent-adolescent relationships and MPA. CONCLUSIONS: This study explored the different mechanisms by which parent-adolescent and peer relationships influence adolescent MPA. These discoveries may contribute to intervention and prevention programs for adolescent MPA.

Knockdown of circPRKCA Restrained Cell Growth, Migration, and Invasion of NSCLC Cells Both in vitro and in vivo via Regulating miR-330-5p/PDK1/AKT Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Protein kinase Cα (PRKCA) is an oncogene in multiple cancers including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and can be transcribed into a number of circular PRKCAs (circPRKCAs). Here, we aimed to elaborate the role and mechanism of circPRKCA_024 (circPRKCA) in malignant progression of NSCLC. METHODS: Expression of circPRKCA, miRNA (miR)-330-5p and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) was measured by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting, and their relationship was testified by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assay. Cell behaviors were evaluated by cell counting kit (CCK)-8, flow cytometry, and transwell assays. AKT activity was confirmed by Western blotting. Xenograft experiment assessed tumor growth. RESULTS: Expression of circPRKCA and PDK1 was upregulated, and miR-330-5p was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. High circPRKCA was correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of NSCLC patients. Silencing circPRKCA could suppress cell viability, migration, and invasion in A549 and H1299 cells, accompanied with apoptosis rate promotion. Moreover, circPRKCA knockdown retarded tumor growth of A549 cells in vivo. Molecularly, miR-330-5p was sponged by circPRKCA, and PDK1 was a target of miR-330-5p. Inhibiting miR-330-5p could attenuate the suppression of circPRKCA knockdown on cell growth, migration, and invasion; contrarily, promoting miR-330-5p caused inhibition on those cell behaviors by downregulating PDK1. Analogously, AKT activity was suppressed by circPRKCA downregulation and miR-330-5p upregulation in NSCLC cells both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: Depleting circPRKCA inhibited PDK1 to suppress NSCLC cell malignant behaviors through miR-330-5p/PDK1/AKT pathway.

Treatment and prognosis for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma bone metastases.

BACKGROUND: To investigate reasonable treatment modalities and prognostic factors for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) bone metastases (BM). METHODS: The clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up data for all patients with DTC BM who received treatment in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University between November 1, 1993 and December 31, 2016 were analyzed retrospectively with respect to mortality and survival rates. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 51.5% and 17.2%, respectively, for all 60 patients. Univariate analysis showed that patients diagnosed with BM at <45 years of age, with controlled thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and those undergoing surgery or 131I therapy had better prognoses. Patients with cervical vertebra metastases, multiple organ metastases other than bone, and those receiving chemotherapy had worse prognoses. Gender, pathological type, number of BM lesions, skeletal-related events (SREs) and whether or not the patient received radiotherapy were not related to prognosis. Cox regression analysis showed that age at diagnosis of BM, undergoing surgery for bone lesions, and not receiving chemotherapy were independent factors of favorable prognosis for patients with DTC BM. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DTC BM have poor prognoses. Age at diagnosis with BM <45 years old, undergoing surgery for bone lesions, and not receiving chemotherapy were independent factors of favorable prognosis for patients with DTC BM. 131I combined with surgery for bone metastatic lesions may be the best treatment model for most patients with DTC BM disease.

Parent-child relationship and smartphone use disorder among Chinese adolescents: The mediating role of quality of life and the moderating role of educational level.

The present study explored the effect of parent-child relationship on Smartphone Use Disorder (SUD) and the mediating role of quality of life (QOL). In addition, we explored the role of educational level from the developmental psychology perspective. Our results indicate that: (1) parent-child relationship could negatively predict SUD among adolescents; (2) QOL played a partial mediator role in the relationship between parent-child relationship and SUD; (3) As educational level increased from elementary school to middle school to high school, the effect of parent-child relationship on QOL weakened. This study showed that adolescents with good parent-child relationship had a higher QOL thus exhibiting a lower extent of SUD. Moreover, the link between parent-child relationship and SUD weakened as the educational level increased.

Knockdown of lncRNA TDRG1 Inhibits Tumorigenesis in Endometrial Carcinoma Through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies in females. Dysregulation of lncRNA TDRG1 has been widely documented in several cancers, including EC. However, the mechanism of this lncRNA involving in EC progression remains to be further elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The enrichment levels of TDRG1 in EC tissues and cell lines were examined by RT-qPCR. Flow cytometry, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell, and Western blot assays were conducted to assess whether TDRG1 knockdown could affect cell cycle arrest, proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of EC cells. The phosphorylation levels of mTOR, AKT and PI3K that associated with PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway were determined by Western blot assay. RESULTS: TDRG1 expression was markedly upregulated in EC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of TDRG1 significantly induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation, restrained the invasion and migration abilities in EC cells. Moreover, TDRG1 silencing decreased the protein levels of p-AKT, p-PI3K, and p-mTOR of EC cells. CONCLUSION: Our data underlined the implication of TDRG1 in EC progression, proposing that targeting TDRG1 might be a potential therapeutic avenue in EC.

Long non-coding RNA ZEB2-AS1 promotes the proliferation, metastasis and epithelial mesenchymal transition in triple-negative breast cancer by epigenetically activating ZEB2.

The triple-negative breast cancer is the most malignant type of breast cancer. Its pathogenesis and prognosis remain poor despite the significant advances in breast cancer diagnosis and therapy. Meanwhile, long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) play a pivotal role in the progression of malignant tumors. In this study, we found that LncRNA-ZEB2-AS1 was dramatically up-regulated in our breast cancer specimens and cells (MDA231), especially in metastatic tumor specimens and highly invasive cells, and high lncRNA-ZEB2-AS1 expression is associated with clinicopathologic features and short survival of breast cancer patients. LncRNA-ZEB2-AS1 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of MDA231 cells in SCID mice. Thus, it is regarded as an oncogene in triple-negative breast cancer. It is mainly endo-nuclear and situated near ZEB2, positively regulating ZEB2 expression and activating the epithelial mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/Akt/GSK3ß/Zeb2 signaling pathway. Meanwhile, EGF-induced F-actin polymerization in MDA231 cells can be suppressed by reducing lncRNA-ZEB2-AS1 expression. The migration and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer can be altered through cytoskeleton rearrangement. In summary, we demonstrated that lncRNA-ZEB2-AS1 is an important factor affecting the development of triple-negative breast cancer and thus a potential oncogene target.

miR­185­5p inhibits F­actin polymerization and reverses epithelial mesenchymal transition of human breast cancer cells by modulating RAGE.

In our previous study, advanced glycosylation end­product specific receptor (RAGE) was observed to bind to S100A8/A9 and cause epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). The results from target gene prediction revealed that microRNA (miR)­185­5p had a RAGE binding site. However, the function of miR­185­5p in the invasion and migration of breast cancer remains ambiguous. In the present study, the expression of miR­185­5p was examined in breast cancer tissues and cells. Clinical features revealed a negative correlation between miR­185­5p and tumor size, as well as in tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. In addition, miR­185­5p was negatively associated with RAGE, and this miRNA reversed the EMT of breast cancer by modulating RAGE in vitro. In addition, miR­185­5p inhibited the S100A8/A9­induced EMT of breast cancer cells by the nuclear factor­κB/Snail signaling pathway. Notably, miR­185­5p upregulation inhibited the F­actin polymerization induced by S100A8/A9 in breast cancer. Furthermore, overexpression of miR­185­5p and reduction of RAGE inhibited lung metastasis node in vivo. Thus, miR­185­5p represents a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer by modulating RAGE.

Combination of IFITM1 knockdown and radiotherapy inhibits the growth of oral cancer.

This research aimed to analyze the effect of IFITM1 on the radioresistance of oral neoplasm. Using a multi-group heat map from GSE9716 analysis of the GEO database, IFITM1 was determined to be a relevant radioresistance gene. The TCGA database was analyzed before the expression of IFITM1 was analyzed. IFITM1 expression was quantified by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in 19 paired oral neoplasm cases. The effects of time and dose of radiation on IFITM1 expression level in CAL27 and TSCC1 cell lines were tested by quantitative RT-PCR. Oral neoplasm cells were transfected with siRNA after radiotherapy to disturb IFITM1 expression. After this, the survival rates, cell apoptosis, caspase-3 viability, expression and γ-H2AX were detected using colony formation, flow cytometry, western blot and immunofluorescence, respectively. Western blot was used for STAT1/2/3/p21-related protein and phosphorylation changes. Finally, an in vivo nude mice tumor model was established to verify the effect of IFITM1 on oral neoplasm cells radioresistance. Through microarray analysis, the head and neck neoplasm radioresistance-related gene IFITM1 was found to be overexpressed. IFITM1 overexpression was verified not only using the TCGA database but also in 19 paired cases of oral neoplasm tissues and cells. With increases of dose and time of radiation, the expression of IFITM1 was increased in CAL27 and TSCC1 cell lines. Furthermore, si-IFITM1 may restrain cell proliferation, DNA damage and cell apoptosis in oral neoplasm cell lines. Finally, pSTAT1/2/p21 was found to be upregulated while pSTAT3/p-p21 was downregulated due to IFITM1 inhibition after radiotherapy. The evidence suggested that IFITM1 in combination with radiotherapy can inhibit oral neoplasm cells.

Viral IL-10 down-regulates the "MHC-I antigen processing operon" through the NF-κB signaling pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

The HLA-I antigen processing machinery (APM) plays a crucial role in the anticancer immune response. The loss of surface expression of HLA-I molecules is particularly important as this enables tumor cells to evade recognition and lysis by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. Transcriptional control of the APM genes is regulated by the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). BCRFl is an Epstein-Barr virus homologue of human IL-10 (hIL-10) and is known as viral IL-10 (vIL-10). vIL-10 shares many immunosuppressive effects with hIL-10 but lacks the immunostimulatory effect of hIL-10. The aim of this study was to assess whether vIL-10 inhibits APM components (TAP-1, TAP-2, LMP-2, LMP-7 and HLA-I) through the NF-κB signaling pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This work demonstrated that vIL-10 inhibited NF-κB activation by blocking IKK phosphorylation and promoting the expression of IKB. TNF-α treatment led to a strong translocation of NF-κB p65, whereas pretreatment with vIL-10 before TNF-α treatment blocked NF-κB p65 translocation. vIL-10 also inhibited TNF-α-induced DNA-binding of NF-κB p65 in the nucleus. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that NF-κB p65 could bind to the TAP-1, TAP-2, LMP-2, LMP-7 and HLA-I gene promoters, and after TNF-α stimulation, the down-regulation of TAP-1, TAP-2, LMP-2, LMP-7 and HLA-I transcription by vIL-10 correlated with the suppression of NF-κB in CNE-2 cells. Surprisingly, vIL-10 inhibits only TAP-1 and LMP-7 transcription in CNE-1 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the inhibition of NF-κB activity may be an important mechanism for vIL-10 suppression of APM (TAP-1, TAP-2, LMP-2, LMP-7 and HLA-I) gene transcription in CNE-2 cells.

Interleukin-11 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells through PI3K/Akt/GSK3ß signaling pathway activation.

Metastasis is the major cause of treatment failure in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) patients. In the preliminary study, we demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-11 expression is positively correlated with distant metastasis in ATC. However, the mechanisms underlying remain largely unknown. Here, we found that cobalt chloride (a hypoxia mimetic) promoted IL-11 expression via HIF-1α activation. Furthermore, the resultant increase in IL-11 expression significantly induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ATC cells, accompanied by Akt/GSK3ß pathway activation and increased invasive and migratory abilities. Conversely, HIF-1α or IL-11 knockdown, or treating cells with a neutralizing antibody against IL-11, a PI3K inhibitor, or Akt inhibitor V, significantly suppressed the induction of EMT and counteracted the enhancements in invasive and migratory abilities. These results indicate that hypoxia increases IL-11 secretion in ATC cells via HIF-1α induction and that IL-11 then induces EMT in these cells via the PI3K/Akt/GSK3ß pathway, ultimately improving their invasive and migratory potential. This study elucidates the prometastatic role played by IL-11 in ATC metastasis and indicates it as a potential target for the treatment of cancer metastasis. However, many questions remain to be explored.

(125)I Seed Permanent Implantation as a Palliative Treatment for Stage III and IV Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous (125)I seed permanent implantation for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma from toxicity, tumor response, and short-term outcome. METHODS: (125)I seeds implant procedures were performed under computed tomography for 34 patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma. We observed the local control rate, overall survival, and acute or late toxicity rate. RESULTS: In the 34 patients (stage III, n=6; stage IV, n=28), the sites of origin were pyriform sinus (n=29) and postcricoid area (n=5). All patients also received one to four cycles of chemotherapy after seed implantation. The post-plan showed that the actuarial D90 of (125)I seeds ranged from 90 to 158 Gy (median, 127 Gy). The mean follow-up was 12.3 months (range, 3.4 to 43.2 months). The local control was 2.1-31.0 months with a median of 17.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.4 to 22.0 months). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year local controls were 65.3%, 28.6%, and 9.5% respectively. Twelve patients (35%) died of local recurrence, fourteen patients (41%) died of distant metastases, and three patients (9%) died of recurrence and metastases at the same time. Five patients (15%) still survived to follow-up. At the time of analysis, the median survival time was 12.5 months (95% CI, 9.5 to 15.4 months). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates were 55.2%, 20.3%, and 10.9%, respectively. Five patients (15%) experienced grade 3 toxic events and nine patients (26%) have experienced grade 2 toxic events. CONCLUSION: This review shows relatively low toxicity for interstitial (125)I seed implantation in the patients with advanced stage hypopharyngeal cancer. The high local control results suggest that (125)I seed brachytherapy implant as a salvage or palliative treatment for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma merit further investigation.

Color Doppler Sonographic and Cadaveric Study of the Arterial Vascularity of the Lateral Upper Arm Flap.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the importance of adequate preoperative assessment with color Doppler sonography to assist in the successful transfer of lateral upper arm flaps by studying the lateral upper arm flap with color Doppler sonography and analyzing the anatomic features of the radial collateral artery. METHODS: A clinical case-control study was performed. The radial collateral artery was studied with color Doppler sonography in 15 healthy volunteers. The origins, courses, variations, and locations of the perforators of the radial collateral artery were recorded. The results and data from the color Doppler sonographic investigation were compared with an anatomic study that was performed on 22 adult cadaveric upper limb specimens. RESULTS: The volunteer group (14 of 15 volunteers) and the cadaveric group (19 of 22 upper arm specimens) clearly showed that the branch pattern of the arterial supply was as follows: brachial artery → deep brachial artery → radial collateral artery → posterior radial collateral artery → myocutaneous perforator. Variations in the origin of the radial collateral artery were identified in 1 volunteer bilaterally and in 3 upper arm specimens. The diameters of the artery and vein measured at the distal insertion of the deltoid and the origin of the deep brachial artery were not significantly different between the volunteer and cadaver groups (P > .05). Due to the difference in measuring methods, the length of the vascular pedicles was significantly different between the groups (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Color Doppler sonography can facilitate the preoperative assessment of the origin, course, variations, and locations of the radial collateral artery and therefore may increase the success rate of lateral upper arm flap transfer.

Effect of Iodine Intake on p14ARF and p16INK4a Expression in Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Iodine intake is related to thyroid disease. This study investigated the effect of the amount of iodine intake on p14ARF and p16INK4a expression of thyroid papillary carcinoma in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cohort of 240 SD rats were randomly divided into control group, low iodine, normal iodine, and high iodine groups (n=60 per group). We inoculated 2 × 10(5) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cells on the left side of the thyroid gland. After 6 and 12 weeks, serum thyroid hormone level and urine iodine level were measured in addition to morphological observations of tumor tissues. Expression of p14ARF, p16INK4a was detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The expression of p14ARF, p16INK4a, FT3, and FT4 levels in all iodine-treated animals were significantly lower than in the control group, while TSH level was significantly higher (P<0.05). Compared to the normal iodine group, the low and high groups had lower p14ARF and p16INK4a expression, lower FT3 and FT4 levels, higher TSH levels, and heavier tumors (P<0.05). In a further between-group comparison, p14ARF and p16INK4a expression and FT3 and FT4 levels at 12 weeks were lower than at 6 weeks. Expression of p14ARF and p16INK4a were positively correlated with FT3 and FT4, and negatively correlated with TSH and tumor weight. CONCLUSIONS: Low and high iodine diet intake could reduce p14ARF and p16INK4a expressions and promote tumor development.

Correlation Analysis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma TNM Staging with Serum EA IgA and VCA IgA in EBV and VEGF-C and -D.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma often occurs in humans in the nasopharyngeal epithelium area. Ebstein-Barr (EB) virus plays a key role in the process of nasopharyngeal carcinoma lesions. Early antigen antibody (EA-IgA) and viral capsid antigen IgA (VCA-IgA) of EB virus detection in serum can effectively monitor the process of nasopharyngeal carcinoma lesions. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -C and VEGF-D expression detection can reflect the distant metastases ability of human tumor cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 153 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients in our hospital were enrolled, while 148 cases of healthy adults were selected as control. ELISA was used to detect serum EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, VEGF-C and -D expression levels. Spearman rank correlation analysis was applied to test the correlation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma TNM clinical stage and different indexes. RESULTS: Serum EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, VEGF-C and -D expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients was 43.74±2.6 U•mL^-1, 62.5±2.7 U·mL^-1, 473.25±3.4 pg•mL^-1, and 498.36±2.3 pg•mL^-1, respectively, which was significantly higher than in the control group as 18.65±3.7 U•mL^-1, 23.74±1.5 U•mL^-1, 225.42±2.3 pg•mL^-1, and 257.24±3.5 pg•mL^-1 (P<0.05). Nasopharyngeal carcinoma TNM clinical staging was obviously correlated with serum EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, and VEGF-C (P<0.05), but not VEGF-D (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient serum EA-IgA and VCA-IgA expression levels were significantly correlated with TNM staging. The high levels of these 3 indicators suggest advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma TNM staging and serious lesions.

Clinical and prognostic analysis of second primary squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

We have investigated the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue after definitive radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and evaluated the effect of common therapeutic regimens for these patients. We retrospectively reviewed follow-up data for patients whose nasopharyngeal carcinoma had been treated by radiotherapy, and selected the 68 who had then developed SCC of the tongue, in the border of the tongue in half, and in the dorsum in 25 (37%). Eight of the 68 patients had clinical lymph node metastasis (12%), and 45 presented with stage I-II disease at the time of the diagnosis of the SCC (66%). Resection or radiotherapy alone was an effective treatment for patients with stage I-II SCC of the tongue, but patients with stage III-IV disease had a poor prognosis, despite being given multidisciplinary treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors that independently influenced the survival of these patients were use of alcohol, recurrence of their nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the latency period, and the clinical TNM stage. Tongue SCC after radiotherapy was generally at an early stage and commonly occurred on the border or the dorsum of the tongue, with few lymph node metastases. Resection or radiotherapy is an effective treatment, and the risk factors that independently influenced the survival of patients indicate that improving the technique of radiotherapy and close follow-up after nasopharyngeal cancer are vitally important.